Borders Railway celebrates 500,000 passengers in first four months

THE line, is the longest new domestic railway built in the UK for over a century, exceeded original expectations after opening in September.

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The Borders Railway

MORE than half a million passengers have used the Borders Railway in its first four months, exceeding original expectations.

The line, which opened in September, is the longest new domestic railway built in the UK for over a century and takes passengers on a 30-mile journey from Edinburgh through Midlothian to Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders .

It re-establishes part of the former Waverley line, which fell victim to the controversial Beeching cuts in 1969, leaving the Borders region without any access to the National Rail network.

The new service has proved popular with both tourists, commuters and the Queen - who spent the day she became Britain's longest-serving monarch travelling on the line - and rail bosses marked the 500,000 journey milestone at Edinburgh Waverley on Thursday.

Initial predictions were for the service to carry 650,000 passengers in its first year.

Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Queen Elizabeth II waves from a carriage window at Edinburgh's Waverley Station on the day she becomes Britain's longest reigning monarch

Transport Minister Derek Mackay said the near £300 million investment in the service has been worth it.

"We knew it would be a success and a wise investment but it's even more popular than we thought," he said.

"I think it's been vindicated and is making a difference. Rail requires huge infrastructure support, and it has that.

"Rail in Scotland is very popular at the moment. This service works because it is reconnecting communities between Edinburgh, Midlothian and the Borders and is creating economic opportunities as well as a commuter link."

Sarah Eno and Andy Swales, from Selkirk, got off the train at Waverley to be told they were the passengers who took the service over the 500,000 passenger milestone.

Mr Swales, 67, said: "We were one of the first paying passengers on the train and we've used it a couple of times a month since then. Before we either had to drive or take a not very nice bus journey, so this is luxury compared to that."

Ms Eno, 68, added: "There was initially a big boost and I noticed a lot more people coming to the Borders, but it was a beautiful September and October.

"I think if they put more bike spaces on the trains it would help because the Borders is a terrific cycling area."

Robin McKelvie

Borders Railway Scenery

The couple believe the success supports the case for extending the line further, and potentially into England.

Mr Swales said: "It deserves to go at least as far as Hawick because that's the biggest town in the area, and travel south to England isn't very easy so it would be great if it went all the way through to Carlisle."

"We've had challenges to maintain enough carriages on this service because it has been popular, but our future plans are to add carriages to our overall fleet and we will strengthen services continuously to meet demand," Mr Verster said.

"Every opportunity to extend the railway to Hawick, and even further to Carlisle, must be evaluated and could hold very exciting possibilities for us."